The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Introduction

Effortlessly witty, sharply intelligent, and emotionally poignant, The Philadelphia Story stands tall as a quintessential romantic comedy that manages to be both a sparkling social satire and a surprisingly sincere exploration of vulnerability, forgiveness, and self-knowledge.

Directed by George Cukor, a master of character-driven storytelling and polished sophistication, and featuring a powerhouse trio of Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart, this 1940 classic is a sterling example of Hollywood at its peak — an elegant cocktail of humour and human insight that still dazzles today.

Plot Summary

Set among the upper crust of Philadelphia society, the film follows Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a proud, intelligent, and self-assured socialite preparing for her second wedding, this time to the respectable but dull George Kittredge (John Howard). However, her meticulously planned nuptials are disrupted by two uninvited guests: her charming but cynical ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), and a sceptical tabloid reporter, Macaulay “Mike” Connor (James Stewart), who’s been assigned to cover the wedding by a scandal rag publisher with blackmail on his mind.

As the weekend unfolds, a series of verbal duels, mistaken affections, and soul-searching revelations unravel Tracy’s pristine façade and force her — and those around her — to re-evaluate their assumptions about love, class, character, and what it means to be truly human.

Performances

Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord

This is arguably the definitive Katharine Hepburn role — a character tailor-made to reflect her own blend of intelligence, poise, and imperious charm. Tracy is both goddess and girl, and Hepburn portrays this duality with remarkable nuance. She begins the film as a woman cloaked in perfectionism, and ends it stripped bare, open to humility, empathy, and love.

Her journey from rigid self-righteousness to tender self-awareness is the emotional spine of the film, and Hepburn’s performance is magnetic — regal yet vulnerable, haughty yet heartbreakingly human. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her work, and it remains one of the most iconic performances in American film.

Cary Grant as C.K. Dexter Haven

Grant plays Dexter as a man still in love, but wise enough to mask it with irony and self-deprecation. His portrayal is rich in understatement — a counterpoint to Hepburn’s fire. He walks a fine line between aloofness and aching regret, and the film's emotional payoff hinges on his quiet emotional growth as much as Tracy’s. His chemistry with Hepburn is effortless and crackling — the kind of witty repartee that defines great screwball comedy.

James Stewart as Macaulay “Mike” Connor

In a role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor, Stewart is a revelation. As Mike Connor, the working-class intellectual dropped into a world of privilege, he’s by turns cynical, poetic, bemused, and romantic. His scenes with Hepburn are some of the film’s finest, especially a tipsy moonlit conversation that brims with both comic timing and genuine romantic heat.

Stewart brings pathos and humanity to what could have been a standard “outsider looking in” role. His bewilderment at the upper class is matched only by his dawning respect and affection for Tracy — making his performance both funny and touching.

Ruth Hussey as Liz Imbrie

Often overlooked, Hussey plays Mike’s dry, perceptive photographer sidekick — and unrequited admirer — with subtlety and grace. Liz offers the viewer a grounded emotional perspective on the chaos and class posturing unfolding around her. Hussey was also nominated for an Oscar for this role.

Themes and Subtext

Perfection vs. Humanity

Tracy’s arc is a parable of the dangers of idealizing others and oneself. She’s been worshiped by everyone — her father, her fiancés, even herself — as a paragon of moral and social perfection. But it’s not until she accepts her own flaws, and those of others, that she finds real love.

Class and Social Satire

The film gently mocks the pretensions of the wealthy while also portraying their genuine emotional lives. Mike and Liz’s presence acts as a mirror, reflecting how absurd — yet fascinating — the upper class can be. At the same time, it questions the idea of who is “worthy” of being admired or understood.

Second Chances and Redemption

Each of the main characters — Dexter, Tracy, Mike — is granted a second chance: at love, at honesty, at self-knowledge. The film doesn’t preach, but it does suggest that redemption requires honesty, vulnerability, and forgiveness.

Screenplay and Dialogue

Donald Ogden Stewart’s Oscar-winning screenplay (adapted from Philip Barry’s 1939 play) is a marvel of witty repartee and elegant pacing. The dialogue sparkles with double entendres, social jabs, and emotional depth. It's fast but never shallow, and packed with quotable lines that carry both humour and heart.

The film’s tone shifts effortlessly from screwball antics to romantic sincerity, without ever feeling jarring — a testament to both the script and Cukor’s direction.

Direction and Visual Style

George Cukor, known for his work with strong female leads and nuanced character studies, directs with a light touch and intuitive sense of rhythm. He allows long takes for dialogue to breathe and performances to shine, keeping the camera fluid and understated. The mise-en-scène is elegant but never ostentatious, and the film’s mood — celebratory, introspective, romantic — flows organically.

Awards and Legacy

Academy Awards:

Winner:

Best Actor (James Stewart)

Best Adapted Screenplay (Donald Ogden Stewart)

Nominated:

Best Picture

Best Actress (Katharine Hepburn)

Best Supporting Actress (Ruth Hussey)

Best Director (George Cukor)

Beyond the Oscars, The Philadelphia Story has secured its place as one of the greatest romantic comedies ever made. It is frequently cited in AFI’s top film lists and has influenced generations of romantic and screwball comedies.

Cultural Influence and Remake

The film was remade as the musical High Society (1956), starring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra — charming in its own right, but lacking the bite and nuance of the original.

More broadly, The Philadelphia Story helped revitalize Katharine Hepburn’s career after a stint of being labelled "box office poison" — a legend often overstated, but the film undeniably marked a triumphant return to form.

Verdict

The Philadelphia Story is pure cinematic sophistication: smart, funny, emotionally resonant, and endlessly rewatchable. Anchored by three screen legends at the height of their charm and skill, it transcends its genre to become a timeless meditation on love, pride, vulnerability, and second chances.